Luqa Pharmaceuticals and Stratpharma enter into an exclusive agreement

Strataderm is already approved in China, where launch preparations are being initiated. Luqa's roll-out to hospital and retail will start during Q4 2012.

Strataderm is a rapidly drying, non-sticky, transparent, silicone gel formulation for the treatment of scars, both old and new. Strataderm has been developed using a new silicone polymer technology that is self drying without the use of Silicone Dioxide. Silicone gel is the only non-invasive scar treatment option for which evidence based recommendations have been made. The International Clinical Recommendations on Scar Management stated "silicone gel should be used as first line therapy in the initial management of scars and in the prevention of hypertrophic scars and keloids."(1)

Up to 94% of Chinese patients develop hypertrophic scars following median sternotomy incision and 41% of women develop a hypertrophic scar within 12 weeks of caesarean delivery. Few clinically proven alternatives for scar therapy are currently available in China.

"It is exciting to further expand the international commercial availability of Strataderm® through this partnership with Luqa in China. This partnership will ensure Strataderm becomes available sooner and to more patients than otherwise possible in the Chinese market." said Darren Kerr, the CEO of Stratpharma.

"The addition of a ready to market leading scar treatment like Strataderm® to our portfolio provides Luqa with the ability to expand one of our strategic therapeutic areas and to accelerate our plans for product commercialization in China while brigning innovation to patients and physicians," stated Robert Braithwaite, Luqa's CEO.

About Luqa Pharmaceuticals
Luqa Pharmaceuticals is a China-based specialty pharmaceutical company with operations across Asia. We dedicate our talent to build a best in class portfolio of innovative products to meet the medical needs of the markets we work in. We are experts and are passionate about bringing products to market in record time, enhancing market access and commercialization excellence. Luqa's entrepreneurial culture combines international best practices and know-how with comprehensive, fast and flexible local strategies.

About Stratpharma
Stratpharma specialises both in the development and in the licensing and global commercialisation of novel medical devices and pharmaceutical products. Stratpharma's dermatology team has many years of international experience in the dermatological therapeutic franchise with a current focus on scars and wounds. These products for scar management and abnormal scar prevention can be used alone or in combination with other more invasive therapies. The current products including Strataderm® are registered and are available in over 50 countries in Europe, North America and Asia.

1. Mustoe, T.A. et al.: "International Clinical Recommendations on Scar Management", Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2002; 110:560–571